UPDATE, 11:55 AM:Rian Johnson hasn’t commented yet on his monumental new task of mounting the next two Star Wars films. Even better, he has borrowed the spirit of another space film, The Right Stuff, that perfectly explains how he must be feeling as he processes the daunting task ahead of him. I think he’s up to it. Glimpse it below Deadline’s original scoop.

PREVIOUS EXCLUSIVE, 11:16 AM: Rarely have I seen the revival of a film franchise stir so much fervor as Star Wars, among hot young filmmakers who grew up loving George Lucas’ original film trilogy. In a bombshell move, I’m told that Lucasfilm is making a deal with Looper writer-director Rian Johnson to write and direct Star Wars Episodes VIII and IX. Essentially, that means that the intention is for Johnson to take the baton from JJ Abrams, who has gotten the space franchise off the ground and is right now helming Episode VII. I don’t know too much more at this point, but it is in keeping with Disney and Lucasfilm’s strategy of entrusting the venerable franchise to the best and brightest writers and directors, including the spinoff films that are being directed by Chronicle‘s Josh Trank and Godzilla‘s Gareth Edwards.

Johnson will take over the core film franchise, and he’ll get started quickly and this will be his preoccupation for quite awhile. Technically, he’ll write that second treatment but the intention on both sides is that he direct the two installments. Joining him as producer will be Ram Bergman. Johnson made his directing debut on the respected indie Brick, and then jumped to mainstream science fiction by writing and directing Looper, an inventive time travel thriller that starred Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis. Bergman produced both of those films. It would be hard to imagine Johnson taking on a higher profile challenge than two consecutive Star Wars films. I’ll tell you more when I know it. Johnson is repped by CAA and attorney Stephen Clark.

Why would they attach a director before we see how JJ fares? Maybe he’d want to do Episode 8

Mr. Majestyk •

After outings in Mission Impossible, Star Trek, and Star Wars, Abrams is probably tired of injecting himself into franchise work and looking to do more original films. That, or he’s looking for another franchise? Besides, the man has a family and a TV empire to run. I can imagine he’s looking to take a rest.

Ksb36 •

Or the Harrison Ford injury has soured the studio on JJ’s leadership. This is a big deal, Ford is irreplaceable and ultimately the buck stops with the director. I am very concerned for Mr. Ford’s overall health and the studio will be lucky in the extreme if he is able to return to work any time soon. I can’t even begin to imagine what they offered HF to return to this role but right now I am thinking he is probably regretting coming anywhere near it.

m •

Maybe they know they don’t want to work with him again? Maybe he’s a little too heavy handed in the process and they want someone that they aren’t afraid to take the movie away from.

etc •

As Mr. Majestyk implies, the decision was probably made *because* of the fact that JJ didn’t sign on.

Bort •

Golly!

D. •

Bravo, Disney & Lucasfilm! A wise choice!

dmr •

If only Bravo were owned by Disney then…wait i just got it

Dense Macabre •

Props to Johnson!!!

Far •

Not a bad choice, but I really wish he wasnt directing BOTH Star Wars movies. Would have been awesome to have a different director direct each installment. That way the films dont get too stale and boring

Block Shooter •

Probably means He’ll be shooting them back to back ALA Lord Of The Rings

dmr •

Since the last chapters are now trending as two part films, will that mean three films?

Mildly Confused •

Didn’t you just report, like a week ago, that they had signed Gary Whitta to write the next SW film? Are they working together, or did Walt Lucas just change their mind REALLY fast?

They’re making standalone films as well, so that may have been one of them.

Anonymous •

His episodes of Breaking Bad were some of the best of the whole series. I cannot wait to see what he does with Star Wars!

HowardB •

One of the movies will probably be filmed entirely from the perspective of a kretch.

Michael VerMeulen •

Wow! After seeing the movie Looper and witnessing his amazing direction of the Breaking Bad episode Ozymandias, I wondered why he didn’t have more movies under his track record. I guess the guys at Disney saw the same stuff that I saw. Nothing bigger than Star Wars!

Morgan •

His episodes of Breaking Bad were some of the best of the entire series. Cannot wait to see what he brings to the Star Wars franchise!

ahem •

Well, Scriptshadow handed Rian his butt, so it doesn’t really matter what Rian does in the future. He was owned by Carson. And CAA reps Rian, but they also have agents there who help Carson. So, obviously CAA put their stamp of approval on Carson. Deal.

Anonymous •

I want to see a shot of the meth RV on tatooine with jawa’s walking out of it…

John Whorfin •

Awesome. AWESOME.

formerlucabuildingyo •

Fuck yeah! Go Rian!.
I have to say I totally found the use of time travel in LOOPER so a refreshingly innovative. And Emily! Oh my gads!

An INFINITELY better and more artistic choice than J.J. “I’m too lazy to find a tripod for my camera” Abrams. This definitely has me interested and encouraged.

Dude •

Finally, this guy is a genius. Brick and Looper are amazing, but he also did The Brothers Bloom, which is one of my favorites. Faith in Star Wars renewed.

Petronius Maximus •

Are you people nuts? These movies are now in the hands of imbeciles. Are these names being chosen by pulling pieces of ripped up Empire magazine out of a hat? After 30 odd years of Star Wars love, this is where I give up. Get some directors with some track record behind them, Lucasfilm! Looper was a joke. Utterly disgusted right now.

Billy •

Really? You clearly have great taste in film. And you realize that the new 3 were utter horsecr@p, right?

m •

God forbid they hire a director who grew up on the material and loves the material… they should only chase guys who want to do it for the paycheck!!! Bring in Spielberg or Peter Jackson, I’m sure they have so much to add to the Star Wars universe. (the preceding was internet sarcasm, for those to dense to understand)

Dan •

You’re kidding, right? Lucas directed the prequels and they were terrible. Get over yourself.

Gates •

Anyone who reads Carson Reeves at Scriptshadow can tell you what a terrible choice this is. Carson Reeves and Rian Johnson have gone toe to toe in the past, and Carson won. He pointed out all the flaws in Looper. Carson Reeves has discovered more writers in the past five years than 90% of managers and agents in this business.

Anonymous •

Carson Reeves doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned anywhere near Rian Johnson. The fact that his name is even on this thread is insulting. Viva La Rian Johnson! This is an amazing choice to helm these films. He’s going to kill it and i’m sure Carson will be one of the first in line to buy a ticket while eating his words with a side of popcorn.

TheLooperPooper •

Scriptshadow is a great resource and Carson Reeves points about Looper were true. While watching I couldn’t believe the main character just sat around the whole second act just waiting for the villain to be active. There was a lot to like in the movie though anyway. Still Rian has talent and will likely make fantastic Star Wars movies.

RD •

The simple truth? Rian is making movies. Carson isn’t. He is a pretender, want to be who is fleecing the pockets of novices.

m •

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… keep reading script shadow, as it’s such a valuable tool in deciding wether a movie is good or not. Unless of course you actually enjoy movies.

Please •

LOL

Rollory •

He “won” by pointing out “all the flaws”? How nice. I was fully aware of the flaws even as I was watching the movie and it was such a good movie I didn’t care. That’s how you “win”.

Anonymous •

I know, right? Who wanted to give a big sci fi film project to that young punk director who’d only done two feature films in his life and hadn’t made anything in FOUR YEARS??? Oh, wait, that describes George Lucas when he made the first Star Wars film.

graybarn tulucci •

When tennis instructors go toe-to-toe with brilliant filmmakers, no one wins. Well… unless, they’re playing tennis. Then the tennis instructor often wins. Or, unless it’s theorizing about film. Then the brilliant filmmaker doesn’t give a wet, fresh sh*t ’cause the other guy’s just a tennis instructor.

tellit •

So what if he was a tennis instructor? Now he’s making closer to a million dollars a year than 99% of the agents and writers and directors in this business.

Screenwriter •

Scriptshadow is NOT making close to a million dollars a year. He is lying to you. He’s a scam artist who makes money (not a million) from people’s fragile dreams and laughs about how pathetic they are as he cashes their checks. Reputable places like The Black List give notes for next to nothing and truly help young writers. Chris Eads just promises air and delivers air. He is a danger to the industry and to the young writers who listen to him. His notes do not make sense. Take the time to read one of the atrocious scripts. You would kick yourself for being so stupid as to take an iota of advice from him or his child girlfriend who has also sold ZERO scripts. I cannot fathom how his man has conned so many people. You want advice? Go to reputable sources who know what they are talking about. Listen to John August’s Scriptnotes podcast, tweet at he or Craig and their circle of writer friends, they always answer back. Check out what Brian Koppleman has to say or Ben Blacker, join the Blacklist but, for god’s sake stop embarrassing yourselves by following a man who has absolutely nothing to back up his claim that he knows how YOU should write.

agreed •

Agreed, but The Black List has its issues. They have the same old readers who pass on great scripts, they tell you your script is amazing, then give you a 6. Franklin is a smooth operator and a nice guy, but his site is not any more efficient than the other methods. Most importantly, you are competing with pro writers on the site. Good luck getting that 10 when big time writers are getting 6’s. Jeff Lowell posted on Done Deal about some b.s. that occurred with his submission. And LA assistants and interns can post their scripts, and have their friends give it a 10. It’s happening every day, and it really makes it hard to get discovered via that site. Also, the notes they give you, even the guy he has on staff for notes, Andrew Hilton, it’s just a factory mentality that I don’t love.

RD •

Well said!

ReallyDog •

By your logic anyone in Hollywood who makes a million dollars a year is somehow magically talented or competent. Suffice to say that is a perspective I do not share.

Honest Rob •

Carson? is that You?
Script shadow is a joke and his “followers” are even sadder.
90% of managers and Agents, huh?
I thank you for the laugh, Carson. i hope laurie is laughing along with me.

rade •

Carson is King. Almost every writer who speaks against him is just a hater.

Lincoln •

So disappointing.

I love Johnson. What a waste of his talents.

mitchellcorona •

Oh yeah what a “waste” putting a talented filmmaker on the biggest movie series of all time.

will •

Well, when you look at what a mess Lucas made of the prequels you can appreciate Lincoln’s misgivings.

Mike •

I dont think he made a mess of the prequels. Sure they could’ve been written a little better, but he made a series of big-budget independant films more faithful to the hammy acting and schlocky dialogue of the 30’s serials than the OT ever was. If anyone doubts this, go watch an episode of ‘Flash Gordon’.

m •

The sun is still shining, and Rian Johnson is still a great filmmaker… what’s the problem?

Eye-Fi •

The reason STAR TREK II was so great, besides Nicholas Meyers’ talent, was he wasn’t beholden to the property. He wasn’t a reverential fan, just set out to make a good movie. The same might be said of JJ Abrams’ approach to the STAR TREK reboot. Having overblown fan boys make this big budget fan fiction doesn’t bode well. This isn’t like Irvin Kerschner stepping in to add maturity to a puffed up comic book. I think Han Solo getting injured early on in shoot sends an ominous warning about this attempt to capture old glories. They’re bringing aboard rabid kids without greater experience or outside influences to these films. I also think Disney is making far too many tales set in this universe.

Cn •

This is weird. I thought arndt did the treatments under Lucas did they just throw all that out? This is just a weird choice. I would have expected Gareth Edwards do episode 8 over a spin off and Johnson do the spin off. And I also thought kasha was doing the scripting? It’s hard to believe he will be doing both script and directing? He’s not a proven visionary in the same level as Lucas or even jj when it comes to story

Anonymous •

USC TROJAN alum carrying on…

Jamie T D •

So does this mean JGL will have a role in Star Wars Episode VIII? He has been in Johnson previous films and they are friends.